[www.planetmole.org] The Yogyakarta tourism community has expressed optimism for improvement in the industry, despite various issues considered damaging, ranging from terrorism, natural disasters, aviation security and political ones. 

The most recent issues are the Australian travel warning against travel to Indonesia, and the European Union’s ban on Indonesian carriers.

by Inez Mahony

On Java, across a short stretch of water from Bali, is one of the most remote and fascinating national parks in Indonesia. Alas Purwo could be an enchanting travel destination for tourists and a treasure trove for those in the logging business.

The park, in the far southeast corner of Banyuwangi, covers 43,000 hectares of land consisting of savanna, mangrove forest, beach forest and lowland tropical forest. Indeed, the jungle embracing its beaches appears to have materialised straight from the sea. Alas Purwo is also home to rare and endangered mammals, including the Asiatic wild dog, wild oxen and leopards. Thousands of migrating birds visit its pristine forests each year and turtles come to lay their eggs on its secluded beaches. And for surfers, the park’s coastline boasts one of the best and most consistent reef-breaks in the world.

CA/TWA Ijen crater with a total area of 2.560 hectares (ha) consist of 2.468 ha CA and 92 ha TWA, located on the border of Banyuwangi Regency and Bondowoso in East Java. Its geographical location lies 8 degree of 3¡¯ 30" south latitude and 114 degree of 14¡¯ 30" east latitude. It is bordered by the protected forest northern of Mt. Remuk and southern of Banyulinu River. On the other hand, it is also bordered by thruway western of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso and the eastern slopes of Mt. Merapi. 

The climate of CA/TWA Ijen crater area is generally influenced by monsoon. It is a dry zone with annual rainfalls 1.500-3000 mm on the average and its temperatures ranging between 2¢ª-23¢ª C. 

Banyuwang have very much jungle or conservation with amazing wild life. One of them is Baluran National Park. This park is a forest preservation area that extends about 25.000 ha on the north coast of East Java. The location is in Sumberwaru village, Banyuwangi sub district, Situbondo (on the east border of Java Island). You can enjoy the panorama of savannah and Baluran Volcano (inactive volcano) in the center of area that becomes habitat of many exotic animals such as wild pigs, deer, peacocks, wild chicken, some species of monkeys and also bulls as the protected animals in the area.